The Australian manufacturing sector nudged positive territory in December with the latest Australian Industry Group – PwC Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) released today, rising by 2.4 points to 50.2 (readings above 50 indicate an expansion in activity). The strongest expansions in December 2011 were seen in the miscellaneous manufactures; basic metals; paper, printing & publishing; and transport equipment sub-sectors. However, this lift in activity was largely... ...Read more »

Financiers for Mildura-based Neqtar Australia have called in receivers PriceWaterhouseCoopers. The move was made on Friday, with Neqtar Wine and SDS Beverages to continue operating as normal until a purchaser is found. The company, which employs around 100 staff, is in charge of the Roberts Estate Winery and their SDS Beverages group is the largest exporter of vegetable concentrates in the Southern Hemisphere. SDS has contracts with a number of leading food groups including Coca-Cola Amatil, Unilever,... ...Read more »

New research from international food and grocery expert IGD has revealed that ethical food shopping is now mainstream in Europe as consumers base their purchase decisions on a growing number of factors. Tens of millions of shoppers across Europe regularly consider factors such as organic, Fairtrade or local sourcing when making food purchasing decisions. “Until recently, ethical food shoppers were seen as niche,” Chief Executive Joanne Denney-Finch told IGD’s Global Retailing conference.... ...Read more »